Thursday, March 01, 2007

North Malaita Anglican Priest sworn in as a member of the SI Prerogative of Mercy Committee

A North Malaita Anglican priest, Father Richard Suiga has been sworn in yesterday by Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena besides another colleague as two new members of the Solomon Islands Prerogative of Mercy committee.

Father Richard Suiga was a South Seas Evangelical Church (SSEC) pastor of Onebusu Village near Suidara in North Malaita, before deciding to become an Anglican Priest in the 1990s.

The other new member also sworn in yesterday is medical doctor Obed Alemaena of Isabel province.

The Committee, whose role is to recommend to the Head of State prisoners’ applications for pardon was inactive since 2005.

Chairman of the Committee, Emanuel Kauhota said the inclusion of the two new members will enable the committee to again carry out its duties. The committee is comprised of three permanent members and nine ordinary members from the nine provinces in the country.

The Permanent members are selected from professions including a medical doctor, a social worker and someone with a legal background.

Governor General Sir Nathaniel said the national constitution requires the proceedings of the committee and yesterday morning's swearing in will enable the committee to carry out its function.

TARD is a neutral, non-profit, "youth initiated, youth led" volunteer group established in August 2005 by To'abaita (a geographical region in Solomon Islands) university students studying in Fiji, with a goal to bridge community development barriers and pursue potential rural community initiatives and aspirations for North Malaita Constituency, Malaita Province, Solomon Islands.

We are also committed to promote community awareness on important issues including gender equality, human rights, health and sanitation, education, cultural preservation, and good governance in the North Malaita Constituency. TARD membership currently comprises more than fifty scholars and young working elites in several countries throughout the Pacific. We hope to achieve our vision by working in partnership with the national government, provincial leaders, rural communities, and genuine donors.

Our vision for North Malaita and the Solomon Islands is that of a safe and sustainable society, whose people are healthy and prosperous.

Our mission is working for a better tomorrow. This can be achieved by helping rural communities make informed decisions and implement potential community development initiatives that will benefit them.

2. TARD Partial Bursary Scheme for North Malaita community high school & Vocational students [At least 50 scholarships each worth SBD$200 to start in sem 2 2008 until sem 1 2009]-Supported by generous donation